AF&PA: Paper news roundup

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 14:56 | dylan

AF&PA: Paper news roundup

By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling

According to recently-released figures from the American Forest & Paper Association, total production and shipment figures were a mixed bag for boxboard, containerboard, Kraft paper, printed-writing paper and recovered paper in October 2012.

Total boxboard production hopped by 2.6 percent compared to October 2011 but was flat (0.5 percent) from last month. Unbleached Kraft boxboard production decreased over the same month last year and decreased compared to last month. Total solid bleached boxboard and liner production increased compared to year-over-year (YOY) and increased compared to last month. The production of recycled boxboard increased YOY and also increased when compared to last month.

Containerboard production rose 2.6 percent over September 2012 and 0.5 percent YOY. The average daily production month-over-month dropped 0.7 percent. The containerboard operating rate for October 2012 gained 0.1 points over the month previous, increasing from 96 percent to 96.1 percent.

Total Kraft paper shipments were 128,300 tons, a drop of 5 percent compared to the prior month. Total inventory was 72,900 tons this month. Both unbleached and bleached Kraft shipments decreased YOY.

Printing-writing paper shipments decreased 2 percent in October compared to October 2011. October shipments of coated free sheet papers increased YOY for the fifth time in the past twelve months, hitting the highest level since September 2010. Shipments of uncoated free sheet paper in October increased 2 percent over the same period in 2011, with mill inventories at the lowest level since July 1995.

Total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in October was 2.49 million tons, 6 percent higher than in September 2012. Consumption was up for all grades except newspapers, which remained at its September low and was 25 percent lower than in October 2011. Year-to-date total consumption in 2012 is 4 percent lower than during the same period last year.